Clear Anodized vs Bare Aluminum Comparison
We have begun shipping MakersLED heatsinks with a clear anodized finish.
Overall, anodizing has helped us create a more consistent finish that is easier to clean and is much less vulnerable to scratches.Bare aluminum naturally forms a clear layer of aluminum oxide which helps protect the aluminum surface- but not enough!
Without anodizing, we found it was difficult to keep the bare aluminum clean from stains and scratches during production and normal use. Without anodizing, sometimes the only way to get rid of stains or scratches was to give the fixture a light polish (youtube video) with aluminum polishing compound.
Anodizing added about $2 of production cost to each foot, but we believe it is worth every cent. The final finish is a flatter aluminum color, similar to what is seen on many Apple products. For a visual, be sure check out the attached image on this post.
For a great video on some of the physics of anodizing, also check out the following YouTube video:
About MakersLED
The MakersLED aluminum heatsink kit sells for under $50 per foot. It includes everything but the LEDs and power supply:
- Cut to length heat sink
- LED mounting screws, nuts, & washers (enough for 25 LED’s/ft)
- Acrylic Splash Guard – Plastic End Caps, Rubber t-slot endcap plugs
- 92mm fan 12V with cover (one per ft)
- Stainless steel assembly hardware (for exposed parts)
MakersLED is the only DIY LED heatsink kit on the market that produces a professional finish.
Search Terms: MakerLED, Maker’s LED, MakerLED, MarkersLED heatsink kit.